Revision+-+Volunteerism

VOLUNTEERISM = = = = = INFORMATION = = What is volunteerism? = Volunteerism is the **unselfish, altruistic** act of taking willing, conscious action to contribute to a cause or causes **without want of personal material gain.** It is the practice of people working on behalf of others without being motivated by financial or material gain. Volunteering generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to **promote good** or **improve human quality of life**. People also volunteer to gain skills without requiring an employer's financial investment. Volunteering takes many forms and is performed by a wide range of people. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work in, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others volunteer on an as-needed basis, such as in response to a natural disaster. There are three major benefits of volunteering:
 * 1) Economic benefits: activities undertaken by volunteers that would otherwise have to be funded by the state or by private capital, so volunteering adds to the overall economic output of a country and reduces the burden on government spending.
 * 2) Social Benefits: volunteering helps to build more cohesive communities, fostering greater trust between citizens and developing norms of solidarity and reciprocity that are essential to stable communities.
 * 3) Individual Career Benefits: graduates can meet people and gain work experience through volunteering, and, it helps school students for scholarships knowing well that the judges are impressed when a resume lists volunteer work.

 Volunteerism promotes **community bonding**. When individuals from different walks of life get together for a charitable cause, a sense of fellowship and camaraderie develops. This will inculcate a sense of belonging to the community, strengthens the people sector and the Singapore Heartbeat and ultimately nurtures the development of a gentle and gracious society. As others have observed, the moral test of any society is how it treats its weakest: children, elderly, sick, needy and handicapped. We all have a role to play in making this a reality for our nation.

Singapore's volunteer participation rate, in terms of current volunteers who had volunteered over the past 12 months, has increased from 9.3% in 2000 to 16.9% in 2008. (Source: Individual Giving Survey 2006, NVPC)

Factors Affecting Volunteerism
1) Time 2) Interest 3) Convenience 4) Passion for community service 5) Quality of experience 6) Health conditions 7) Financial difficulty (thus affecting free time)

  = QUESTIONS = Just Volunteerism 1) Volunteerism is increasingly undervalued in a world obsessed with self-interest. Do you agree? Explain your answer.

2) Is time the most important factor in volunteerism?

3) It has been said that volunteerism is forced and not student initiated. How far do you agree to this statement?

4) There is no true volunteerism. People all want to achieve certain goals by volunteering. Discuss. 5) The focus on volunteerism should be the beneficiary and not the volunteer. Do you agree? Explain your answer.

6) Altruism is a prerequisite for volunteers. Discuss.

7) Philanthropy is more beneficial than volunteering. Do you agree?

8) Overseas volunteerism is a waste of time and money. Do you agree with this view?

Volunteerism and other topics 1) Should volunteerism be part of school's curriculum? Discuss

2) Do you think volunteerism can preserve the environment?

3) Mandatory community service in schools is inherently hypocritical. Do you agree? Explain your answer.

4) Volunteerism should be a lifelong skill cultivated from young. Discuss.

5) Volunteers should not choose their beneficiaries as it is discriminatory. Do you agree? Explain your answer.

6) Why is community service incorporated into punishment of criminals? -ym & jy

7) Overseas volunteerism should be mandatory to all students. Do you agree?

8) Community service is the same as volunteerism. Do you agree?

9) It is a person's right to choose not to volunteer. Do you agree?

= = =** Volunteerism and other topics **= = = = = = = 1) Should volunteerism be part of school's curriculum? Discuss

2) Do you think volunteerism can preserve the environment?

3) Why is community service incorporated into punishment of criminals? -ym & jy

= USEFUL LINKS = // National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) // [] [|Data about volunteerism in Singapore:]  [] //

Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) // []

// Article on the supposed death of volunteerism in S'pore // [|http://www.yawningbread.org/arch_1999/yax-143.htm]